La Favela Bar and Restaurant in Bali

Mediterranean Bar & Restaurant in Seminyak

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La Favela Bar and Restaurant in Bali welcomes you to a different kind of bar and dining scene on Seminyak’s main Kayu Aya road. Since opening in 2013, it has become very popular thanks to its quirky vintage design, drawing much inspiration from the namesake urban scenes of Rio, hence its name. It’s open for lunch and dinner, but most come late and stay on for its chilled vibes, when the heavily decorated dining rooms and cosy corners look their best, each with different sets of antiques and art from the owner’s personal collection.

Entering La Favela, you are greeted to semi-indoor gardens covered by dense foliage, with artificial waterfalls and ponds and alfresco tables and chairs laid out beyond a mini bridge. Inside is its bar and lounge, with walls heavily adorned with funky old clocks and picture frames. La Favela was first meant to be a rooftop spot, since that’s how favelas usually are. The concept came with the idea that to enjoy real beauty is to be able to see the imperfections. This meant messy roofs with antennae and whatnot, so they attractively covered a part of their roof with old kiddie tricycles.

However, it later evolved with a bar and lounge underneath and into the overall dreamy venue it is now. The interior design really makes La Favela the cool hangout it has become: there’s an old VW Type 2 ‘kombi’ van that they turned into a bar, and a mini replica of Christ the Redeemer looking over everyone. This is backed up by cool clubbing tunes from international DJs such as David Herrera and resident DJ ‘Funktastic’ Maick Rodriguez who plays disco, funk, R&B, hip-hop and anything of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

From the bar, special exotic signature cocktails to try include the Favela Breeze, a soothing mix of vodka, peach liqueur and dragon fruit, and the La Favela Mystique, with vodka, green pear, fresh strawberries, apple sour and cranberry juice. All signature cocktails are USD 7 (IDR 100,000). Refreshing sangrias such as one with gin and Sauvignon Blanc, and another with vodka and Cabernet Sauvignon and Crème de Cassis, are all at USD 9 (IDR 125,000) per glass. Beers are acceptably priced for the upscale Seminyak area, with a medium 330ml Bintang at USD 2 (IDR 30,000).

If you’re feeling peckish, start off with their selection of Peruvian ceviche with mixed seafood, mahi-mahi or red snapper. Otherwise, try their tartare and carpaccio (IDR 75,000-85,000). For a heavier feast, there are tenderloins, rib-eyes, juicy baby pork ribs and barramundi steaks (named ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’) available (IDR 95,000-220,000). Come as a group, and you can opt for great tapas to share, from Greek plates, prawns in Jerez sauce, to grilled octopus with chimichurri sauce and calamari with Thai sauce. Tapas range between USD 3.5 and 5 (IDR 50,000 and 75,000).

Whether you come to dine, drink or dance, La Favela is one of Seminyak’s oases where you will be able to relax with an international crowd. Look out for their weekly late night house party agendas on Facebook, featuring international guest DJs from 22:30 through to the wee hours. Valet parking is available, but coming by taxi is the best option.

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